The Alpha's Hidden Embers

I was in the forest…again. I'd done this so many times I almost wasn't scared anymore. Lies. I was frightened as hell. Sprinting through the leaves and ducking under branches, I ran as fast as my aching legs could carry me. I didn't know what was after me but I could hear it seemingly approaching no matter how fast I ran. It was freakishly loud and judging from how the branches crunched and crushed under it's feet, it was probably large too. It sounded wild, like a raving animal…a beast. I couldn't fathom how I got there or what I'd done to be chased in the first place, but I knew I wasn't going to let myself get caught. I'd run till my legs became numb and gave up. My skin was bruised, the twigs and vines thrashing wickedly at me as I sprinted through the thick, dark forest. From the corner of my eye I spotted a soft light and hope rose in my soul. I was going to make it! I quickly diverted towards the light. My pale red dress got caught in a jagged branch in the process but I didn't slow down for a second. I bounded on, ripping the dress down the side in the process. The light. I knew I'd be safe if I could just… I skidded to a halt when I emerged from the dreary forest with it's wiry branches and crooked trees. The light seemed brighter, much brighter now I was much closer to it, but I stood at the edge of a cliff, the ball of light levitating over the edge. Should I jump? There was water at the bottom of the cliff but it was quite a distance. Plus I couldn't even swim. The pounding of my heart echoed in my ears. The beast let out a deafening roar as it bounded towards me and I wisked my head around to face it… **** I was jolted awake by the blaring of my annoying alarm. My head felt funny. I'd dreamt again, I knew I had, but I couldn't recall a thing, and it had been a very exhausting dream. I spat out the loose strands of my curly hair that had somehow gotten in my mouth in my sleep. I always wore a bonnet before going to bed but never woke up with one. I lived with my aunt Gabriella. Who was the closest family I had. My parents passed away in an accident years ago when I was still little. I almost remembered nothing about them. The scalding coffee helped calm my nerves as I sat at the small kitchen island sipping it. I was enjoying the calm while I could, because once I stepped out my front door I knew chaos awaited. Walking down the street, the side glances and stares thrown at me by the other pack members didn't go unnoticed by me. But I kept my head high and walked with purpose. No one was going to break me I promised myself. I'd been happy once. At least I thought I was. I'd just turned 19 when the most popular werewolf, Gideon Grey asked me out. All the girls were head over heels for him. Obviously he was damn good looking, like a walking dream. His brown hair was always tousled in the most attractive way. He was tall, like his father, who was the pack Beta and had a way with words. His dazzling smile never failed to catch my attention, and the attention of all the others. I never really liked him at first. Sure I thought he was handsome, but I didn't drool over him like all the other girls my age, so when he approached me at the annual pack party and asked me out I'd been genuinely shocked. I didn't give him my answer then. I thought about it, like any reasonable girl would. But eventually said yes, when I saw I had nothing to lose. Plus I thought he was fine as hell. Our relationship lasted 2 years. It was all roses and rainbows the first year, then things started to change. Gideon started spending less time with me and more time partying or chilling with his bunch of half-brained friends. Girls lurked around him. All the f*****g time. I tried to ignore it and blame it on the thirsty girls, but he seemed to enjoy their company and attention a little too much. I turned 21 last week and decided to host a tiny party. For just a very few friends. Not that I had many anyways. So I dressed and headed to his house to tell him. I was halfway up his stairs when I stopped dead in my track. Muffled grunts and moans came from his room. My heart rate spiked as I tiptoed towards it, dread filling me with every step I took. Maybe he was just watching porn…as usual. I didn't believe myself this time. I took a deep breath and swung his bedroom door wide open with trembling hands. My breath caught in my throat. Gideon was sprawled on his couch, naked as the day he was born. Some stupid blonde girl knelt between his legs. Shoving her face down his crotch. Another brunette lay on his side. They were chewing each other's faces off. Gideon was startled and pushed the brunette off him at the sight of me. “H-hey” he stuttered. “Hey?!” I repeated, flabbergasted. My eyes took in the horrendous scene and I struggled to keep my rising anger at bay. “Calm down” he waved his hands slowly at me. The room stank of sweat. “Calm down? Calm down?! That's the first thing you think to say to me?!” “Samantha, just chill out and listen to me” I kept my eyes on him, trying my best to ignore the whores in his room. He looked everywhere but me. And opened his mouth to say something else. Something stupid obviously. The slutty blonde was still on her knees sucking him off like her life depended on it. I wanted to rip her hair out and feed it to Gideon. The brunette twirled a strand of her filthy hair between her two fingers and stared at me with a blank expression. I wanted to scream profanities at Gideon but instead I turned around and stormed off.